Am I Entering Pre-Menopause?
Question
I am 42 and have been using NFP for eight years (married late in life). This month my cycle was very irregular. Phase I was extremely heavy and painful for a couple days and then just spotted for a ten days. I am now on Day 19, still had some mucus yesterday (Day 19) and my temp has not shifted. I typically have a temp. shift by Day 17. Am I entering pre-menopause and if I am what do I need to do differently with my charting?
Valeri
Answer
Last Updated: May 2, 2022
Dear Valeri,
Your fertility signs do seem to indicate a change typical of premenopause. During this time you may encounter days, weeks or even months in which you will shift back and forth between Phase I infertility and Phase II fertility several times. During such times, you may or may not experience a Phase III. In addition, you may notice unexpected spotting or bleeding that does not seem to be a true menstrual period because it was not preceded by a thermal shift. Such occurrences are normal during the premenopause years.
Whether you are having normal cycles or cycles with irregularities due to perimenopause, you can still apply your knowledge of NFP if you are observing and recording your fertility signs–or lack thereof. It sounds like you are faithfully charting; just keep it up. The information you gather will document your transition through premenopause. This information and more can be found in the Couple to Couple League’s “Art of Natural Family Planning, Premenopause Student Guide” available from your local CCL Teaching Couple or www.ccli.org.
Ron and Andrea Gronsky
Your fertility signs do seem to indicate a change typical of premenopause. During this time you may encounter days, weeks or even months in which you will shift back and forth between Phase I infertility and Phase II fertility several times. During such times, you may or may not experience a Phase III. In addition, you may notice unexpected spotting or bleeding that does not seem to be a true menstrual period because it was not preceded by a thermal shift. Such occurrences are normal during the premenopause years.
Whether you are having normal cycles or cycles with irregularities due to perimenopause, you can still apply your knowledge of NFP if you are observing and recording your fertility signs–or lack thereof. It sounds like you are faithfully charting; just keep it up. The information you gather will document your transition through premenopause. This information and more can be found in the Couple to Couple League’s “Art of Natural Family Planning, Premenopause Student Guide” available from your local CCL Teaching Couple or www.ccli.org.
Ron and Andrea Gronsky
Answered By:
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Andrea and Ron Gronsky, PhD, Professional Members of CANFP,now retired, taught the Sympto Thermal Method through the Couple to Couple League, in the Oakland Region.
